Alain LeRoy Locke was a prominent African American writer, philosopher, educator, and advocate for racial equality. He is best known as the "Dean" of the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural and intellectual movement of the 1920s that celebrated African American art, literature, and music.

Locke was born in Philadelphia in 1885 and went on to become the first African American Rhodes Scholar, studying at Oxford University in England. He later earned a Ph.D. in philosophy from Harvard University, where he was influenced by the ideas of pragmatism and modernism.

As a professor at Howard University, Locke played a key role in promoting African American art and literature, and he mentored many leading figures of the Harlem Renaissance. He is perhaps best known for editing the seminal collection "The New Negro," which showcased the work of writers and artists such as Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Aaron Douglas.

Locke's writings emphasized the importance of cultural pluralism and the value of African American contributions to American society. He believed that art and literature could serve as powerful tools for social change and racial uplift.

Alain Locke's legacy as a cultural leader and intellectual continues to be celebrated in the field of Black history and beyond.